Salts of substituted phenoxybenzoic acids, compositions of the same and herbicidal use thereof

Abstract

2-Nitro-5-(substituted-phenoxy)benzoic acids and esters, salts, amides, and acyl halides thereof comprise a class of compounds that are highly effective herbicides.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Herbicidal compounds having the formula: ##STR4## wherein X is a member selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, COOH, ##STR5## (alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms), hydroxy, alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, ##STR6## SH, SR 1 , SOR 1 , SO 2  R 1 , SO 2  NH 2  and combinations thereof, R 1  and R 2  are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R is OM in which M is an alkali metal (lithium, sodium and potassium), alkylammonium of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkanolammonium of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 1 to 5. 
     
     
       2. The method for controlling plant growth that comprises applying an herbicidal amount of a compound defined in claim 1. 
     
     
       3. An herbicidal composition comprising a carrier for an herbicide and an herbicidal amount of a compound defined in claim 1.